Specifically, the survey asked people to give their "best guess" on what percentage of Americans owned firearms..."Generally speaking, less knowledgeable people tend to overestimate the size of groups..." [More]So basically we're talking a Mark Dice interview without the humor passed off as "research" to bolster academic creds and persuade politicians a disarmament platform is a winner?
[Via MM]
This would all be terribly, terribly interesting if my rights were subject to a public opinion poll.
ReplyDeleteGiven that no one knows the correct answer to the question, I can't see how the study has any validity whatsoever.
ReplyDeleteThe survey raises some interesting questions. In southern New England and the metro NY area, shooting sports are not as popular as in the South and West, so gun ownership (as far as I can tell by number of gun shops, etc.) is lower. The answer you get will depend on where that answer comes from.
ReplyDeleteSince there is no reliable data on gun ownership, only self-reported figures ("guns, what guns?") there's really no way to know what the "correct" answer is. In a situation like this, studies have no real value except to the Bloomberg orgs that will present anything that supports their position, regardless of its veracity. In short, this study is bullshit.